\Dead"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Deadened}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Deadening}.] [From {Dead}; cf. AS. d?dan to kill, put to
death. See {Dead}, a.]
1. To make as dead; to impair in vigor, force, activity, or
   sensation; to lessen the force or acuteness of; to blunt;
   as, to deaden the natural powers or feelings; to deaden a
   sound.
   As harper lays his open palm Upon his harp, to deaden its
   vibrations.                                 --Longfellow.
2. To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to
   deaden a ship's headway.
3. To make vapid or spiritless; as, to deaden wine.
4. To deprive of gloss or brilliancy; to obscure; as, to
   deaden gilding by a coat of size.

\Dead"en\, v. t.
To render impervious to sound, as a wall or floor; to deafen.